Like music in my ears

Back to rallying. I think you all know that rallying is my first love in motorsport. It’s what I did for so many years and the chance to go back there and compete again is really good for me.

That’s why I’m so excited about the Condroz Rally. I have absolutely loved the intense competition and the atmosphere around the FIA World Rallycross Championship – it’s hard not to enjoy being a world champion again! But the chance to sit on the start line and have a co-driver count me down from five to go is really special.

It’s even more special that the person sitting alongside me is the same Welshman who won the 2003 World Rally Championship with me, Phil Mills. Phil and I started 152 rounds of the World Rally Championship together and won 13 of them. The last time he was calling the notes to me in the world championship was on the Rally of Portugal in 2010.

Phil and I have been through a lot in our time competing in a car. Both joy and drama. For me it’s not only the victories or the dramatic crash in Germany 2004 that comes to mind. All the good talks and joy we had driving around for hours and hours in between stages in different countries around the world is very special to me still. The chance to get back together again in a Citroen C4 WRC is really nice for both of us. We wanted to do something last year, 10 years after we won the title, but there was never time to sort it out. We can say this is a delayed celebration for the two of us.

But what about Belgium and Condroz? I must admit, I don’t know so much about the rally, except that it’s a very, very popular event with fans and competitors. But, having competed in World RX of Belgium earlier this year, I do know about the country and just how much those guys love their motorsport. The atmosphere at the race was incredible and I’m sure it will be the same when we get to the start of the rally.

It will definitely take me a little bit of time to get used to rallying again after driving alone and around in circles for the season. But once Phil and I find our feet again, I’d like to think we’ll be pretty close to the pace. With the focus of PSRX on winning the FIA World Rallycross Championship, there really hasn’t been time to drive rally cars much recently – I have done some shows and things like that in the last couple of years, but not so much. I can’t wait to get back into a rally car.

The main thing is to enjoy myself.

After the rally, the whole team will be focused on World RX of Argentina later in November and next season. We are working flat out to sort everything for 2015, but at the moment there is nothing confirmed.

And you never know, once Phil’s back in the car, he might not want to get out again…